Circle of Death

Strike Back #5

by Chris Ryan

'Ryan never fails to nail the target with a well-aimed burst of rapid-fire realism.' - Crime Review

Ex-SAS heroes Bald and Porter take on the Deep State in the nail-shredding new Strike Back thriller

In a world run by rich and powerful men, Julian Cantwell is more powerful than most. A ruthless political consultant, Cantwell has manipulated elections around the world, bribing opponents and blackmailing political rivals. Doing whatever it takes for his clients to win.

But when a freelance journalist threatens to expose his alleged involvement in a terrifying conspiracy, Cantwell suddenly finds himself under threat. Backed into a corner, he is forced to take drastic action.

Meanwhile in London, former Regiment hero John Porter and ex-SAS vagabond John Bald are drafted in by their MI6 paymasters for a highly secretive - and dangerous - mission. A respected British academic has been arrested in chaos-stricken Venezuela. Accused of spying for the British government, she is being held captive by the President's notorious security forces.

Working alongside a team of ex-Navy SEALs, Bald and Porter are tasked with infiltrating Venezuela and rescuing the academic before she caves in to her interrogators. But as they get closer to their target, Bald and Porter begin to uncover a terrifying plot. A conspiracy that goes right to the very heart of power. To survive, they must face down their deadliest enemy yet, in a desperate fight to the death.

In the battle between the SAS and the Navy SEALs there can be only one winner. Will Bald and Porter prevail? Or have our heroes finally met their match?

Genres: Thriller, Military Fiction, Fiction

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2020

About the author

Colin Armstrong (b. 1961), usually known by the pen-name Chris Ryan, is a British author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
After the publication of fellow patrol member Andy McNab's Bravo Two Zero in 1993, Ryan published his own account of his experiences during the Bravo Two Zero mission in 1995, entitled The One That Got Away. Since retiring from the British Army Ryan has published several fiction and non-fiction books, including Strike Back, which was subsequently adapted into a television series for Sky 1, and co-created the ITV action series Ultimate Force. He has also presented or appeared in numerous television documentaries connected to the military or law enforcement.

Reviews

[Iain Dalziel]

Mediocre at best.

[XOX]

A man was killed that was made to look like an accident. A scientist was kidnapped.

Potter and Bald was sent to rescue the scientist. They have to work with the American team.

Many pages were about the setup. The crossing of border and how to enter the place to rescue the kidnapped.

Things went horribly wrong. Yet the setup bit is kind of too long. There is hardly any tension beside men acting like jerks instead of professional.

The last 50 pages is the plot twist. That redeem the book a bit.

Still not bad. Give it a 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Grace]

4.5 stars

I absolutely loved this book. Once again Porter and Bald the two ex SAS colleagues are reunited in a dangerous mission but all is not as it seems.
This was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down once I got into it. This is a must for fans of Chris Ryan.

[Alan Pearson]

Bald and Porter together with their MI6 handler are in a race against time to rescue Ms Fuller who is being held as a spy by the Venezuelan government.
There mission takes them from London to Colombia & Venezuela in a dash to save her they are working with three ex navy seals who are helping them on the orders of the CIA but all is not as it seems they must work to thwart the ambitions of the President of the USA who has his own agenda
Well written though slow to start the action is relentless and the story absorbing.

[Zax]

Well..... Omg.... and.... Well.........

This is a warm night in pleasant company, out for your favourite meal in an excellent restaurant.
What could go wrong???
Well: everything.
Have enjoyed throughly all the books to this (five book) series.
Perhaps some better than other but all extremely readable.
And it’s worth enjoying the previous books to come to this one.
You may gag on your meal and choke on your wine and ponder if this really went down in the best way it could?
Cracking good, up there with the best in action thrillers.
But... Well... Ouch.

[Tom - Reader of Books]

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t see the appeal. Chris Ryan is a talented writer able to draw on a very rich history of experience and insight. But this all seemed patchy in this story in the strike back series.

It felt like one overstretched action sequence, one that wasn’t particularly enjoyable or original for the most part with the ‘shocks’ signposted as clear as a day for the most part.

Lots of great reviews for it on this site, mine isn’t one of them.

[Warwick]

Fast moving action after a detailed lead in, Ex SAS and US seals on a joint rescue mission in Venezuela. Conspiracy plot ludicrous but only revealed at end, so largely an enjoyable read of preferred genre.

Written 2020, with two others 2022 and 2024 it's great to have contemporary authors such as Chris Ryan entertaining us.

[Bob Burch]

Before I started traveling the world on business I was advised by a colleague "if you need to shake hands with an American, count your fingers afterwards"

I still have all my fingers, plus a few recollections of disgruntled contacts if I've had occasion to count them in front of them. 😊

[Robert Gray]

Excited,grabbing

This was another great example of a very great writer Chris Ryan is far one of the best excited writer

[Ceri Jenkins]

Good read




Solid story from Chris Ryan. Not the usual twists and turns but still a good adventure. Would recommend this to any Chris Ryan fan

[Izzy]

Good read

Read very quickly, no lulls ,fast moving action book, I can not wait for the next book to be released

[Ben]

Not my favourite of the series. But it makes up for the ending.

[John Tonks]

Yet again another fantastic, immersive story from Chris Ryan. I've read every one of his books, brilliant.

[David Slater]

Another cracker.

[Jim Whitefield]

Ryan is as good as ever. Cracking read.

[Michael Saunders]

what a great, fast moving series of books in this series. quite a shocking end to the series...let’s just say it’s not always happy ever after. gripping, humorous and graphic.

[Catherine]

Good but not as good as Black Ops.

[pat grant]

Captivating

From beginning to end held my attention, like authors style of writing - to the point.
Will be back for more by this writer. Thank you.

[Gerard Lennox]

Another good rwad

Another great book from this prolific writer. Great action, suspense and twists right to the end. I would highly recommend this book.

[Jason Dolphin]

😱

[Janet Macmenigall]

Action packed and fast paced that's always a good story. I love the no-nonsense, tell it as it is format of chris ryan books.

[Kelly Hine]

Oh. My. GOD!! This was the best ending to the series. I gasped out loud and covered my face with my hand at one point! 👏🏻

[Jamie Horan]

Nonsensical and predictable but still enjoyable

[David]

Much better than Red Strike. The last Strike Back novel is a fast-paced and enjoyable romp.

[Peter Brickwood]

Best part is you can trust the authenticity of the combat sequences because you know the author has been there. Fast moving action makes it a compelling read.

[Aubrey Toombs]

Very good read

Fast paced story with several twists especially at the end. I really enjoyed this book.
Best one for some timw.

[Kirsty Maule]

really good

Nice pace to it. A few twists I didn’t expect. Really enjoyable. Looking forward to another one with Bald as the main character

[Justin Whittle]

Circle of death

Amazing read could not put the book down one of Ryan's best shocked he's killed off John Porter rip John